Leaf hinging mechanism for tables



Filed April 25, 195B 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mlllllll lh 'II/II/I/{II I'IIIIIIIIII Oct. 6, 1959 H. F. SULLIVAN LEAF HINGING MECHANISM FOR TABLES Filed April 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm w P rm w a United States Patent HINGING MECHANISM FOR TABLES Henry Frank Sullivan, Mount Prospect, Ill., assignor to Frank Sullivan and .Co., Chicago, 11L, a corporation of Illinois Application April 25, 1958, Serial No. 730,989 6 Claims. cram-6o This invention relates to a leaf hinging mechanism for tables and the like.

. It is the general object of this invention to prov de a new and improved mechanism for hingedly connecting a leaf to an edge of a table or other support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved leaf hinging mechanism for hingedly attaching a leaf to the edge of a support for movement between an extended position in the plane of the support and an out-of-the-way position against the underside of the support, which mechanism automatically retains the leaf in either its extended or its out-of-the-way posltlon. A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hinge-like device for use with a pair of hingedly connected members to automatically brace the two members in a fully extended position in the same the top of the table, in which positions the table is converted from a square shape to a circular shape having increased seating capacity; t

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the table shown in Fig. -3 with the leaves extended; I

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of the table shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the leaves swung into their out-of-the-way positions against the underside of the top;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the table with the leaves folded in under the top;

plane when the two members are swung into such posi tion.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved leaf hinging mechanism which is sturdy and is adapted to rigidly support a leaf in a fully extended position in the plane of a table-like support, which elfectively holds a leaf in an out-of-the-way position against the underside of the support when not in use, which is economical to produce and easy to assemble, and which requires little or no maintenance.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide, with a generally square table top supported on a central pedestal, a new and improved leaf hinging mechanism for hingedly connecting four arcuate leaves to the edges of the table so that the leaves are pivotable between fully extended positions in the plane of the table to convert the table into a circular one having an increased seating capacity and between out-of-the-way positions against the underside of the table, which mechanism automatically retains the leaves in either their fully extended or their out-of-the-way positions.

While the foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, other more specific objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and purpose of the features of novelty incorporated in the new leaf hinging mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of exemplification but it will, of course, be appreciated that the invention is susceptible of incorporation in still other forms coming equally within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a generally square non-extensible table of conventional type; I i Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the table show-n in Fig- 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational viewof a table which has arcuately shaped leaves hingedly connected to the edges thereof in accordance with the invention, showing the leaves in their fully extended positions in the plane of Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the under: side of the table shown in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive showing one of the leaves in its fully extended position with the leaf hinging devices of the invention in their leaf bracing position; i

Fig. 8 is a perspective view similarto Fig. 7 with the leaf in its fully extended position and with the leaf hinging devices in their positions flat against the underside of the extended table whereby the leaf may be swung into its out-of-the-way position against theunderside of the table; t

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 showing the leaf in a position intermediate its fully extended position and its position against the underside of the table; a

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of the invention when in its position shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged and inverted vertical sectional view taken generally on the line 11--11 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 12 isa vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 11 with the leaf shown in its out-of-the-way position against the underside of the top of the table and; with the fully extended position and an intermediate position of the leaf being shownin broken lines. v

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a table of a conventional type which has a horizontally extending, generally square top 15, the corners of which are slightly beveled. The top of the table is supported on a centrally disposed pedestal 17 having a spider-type bracket 18 at its upper end which is secured to the underside of the top and a floor-engageable foot 19 at its lower end. To convert the table into a circular table havingan increased seating capacity, four arcuate leaves 20are hingedly connected one to each of the straight edges of the table. it I The invention is directed to means disposed adjacent each end of the leaves 20 for connecting the leaves to the edges of the table for movement between fully extended positions in the plane of the top 15, Figs. 3 and 4, and out-of-the-way, reversely folded positions against the underside of the top, Figs. 5 and 6, which means automatically retain the leaves in either their fully extended or their out-of-the-way positions. If the corners of the top 15 were not beveled, there would. be interference between adjacent leaves when they are folded into their positions against the underside of the table.

The details of the invention may best be described with reference to Figs. 7. to 12 inclnsive. "A first pairof hinged leaves or plates 23 and 24 formed of sheet metal are pivotably connected together by means of a pintle or hinge pin 25. The pin extends through a series of knuckles 26 and 27 which are formed respectively on adjacent edges of the plates 23 and 24 and which are interfitted in" endwise alignment. The hinge plate 23 is V secured flush or fiatwise against the underside of the table i 3 have aligned edges extending at right angles to the meeting edges of the table and the leaf with the edge of the plate 23 having a pair of aligned knuckles 32 formed thereon and with the edge of plate 24 having a pair of aligned knuckles 33 formed thereon.

A second pair of hinge members or plates 35 and 36 formed of sheet metal have adjacent edges thereof hingedly connected together by means of a pintle or hinge pin 37 which extends through aligned knuckles 38 and 39 formed respectively on plates 35 and 36.

i The second pair of plates have corresponding edges extending at right angles to the hinged connection therebetween with the edge of the plate 35 having formed thereon a pair of aligned knuckles 40 interfitted with the knuckles32 of the plate 23 and with the edge of the plate 36 having formed thereon a pair of aligned knuckles 41 interfittedwith the knuckles 33 of the plate 24. A pintle or hinge pin 42 extends through the aligned knuckles 32 and 40 of plates 23 and 35 respectively and a pintle or a hinge pin 43 extends through the aligned knuckles 33 and 41 of plates 24 and 36 respectively whereby to provide hinged connections between adjacent edges ofthe first and second pair of plates with the hinged connection 37 between the second pair of plates 35 and 36 being arranged in endwise association with the hinged connection 25 between the first pair of plates 23 and 24.

With the leaf 20 in its fully extended position, the second pair of hinged plates 35 and 36 are pivotable about pintles 42 and 43 between a position extending at right angles to the first pair of plates 23 and 24 and to the underside of the extended table, as in Fig. 7, in which position the plates 35 and 36 act as a supporting brace for retaining the leaf in its fully extended position, and a position flush or flatwise against the underside of the extended table alongside the leaves 23 and 24, as in Fig. 8, in which position the leaf 20 may be pivoted about the pintles 25 and 37 between its fully extended position and its out-of-the-way position, as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12.

A coil spring 46 which is disposed about the pintle 25 with its ends in engagement with the plates 23 and 24 is biased to move the plates 23 and 24 together. A coil spring 47 which is disposed about the pintle 37 with its ends-engageable with the plates 35 and-36 is biased to movethese plates together. When the second pair of plates'35 and 36 are in their flatwise position, as in Fig. 8, thesprings 46 and 47, are operable to automatically move the leaf 20 from its fully extended position into its out-of-the-way position against the underside of the table and to resiliently hold the leaf in such out-of-the-way position. Resilient button-like abutment members 50 are provided on the underside of the table top 15 and on the underside of the leaf 20 for engagement with each other when the leaf is in its position against the underside of the table. 1

In order to automatically swing the second pair of plates 35 and 36 into their leaf-bracing position, Fig. 7, as-soon as the leaf has been swung into its fully extended position, a pair of coil springs 48 and 49 are disposed respectively about the pintles 42 and 43. These springs are biased to pivot the second pair of hinged plates 35 and 36 into their position at right angles to the plates 23 and Has soon as both pairs of plates have been fully 7 opened, as when the leaf is swung'into its fully extended position.

. With the leaf 20 braced in its fully extended position, it is a simple matter to manually urge the second pair of plates 35 and 36 against the action of the springs 48 and 49 in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 7

into their position flat against the underside of the extendedtable, as shown in Fig. 8, whe'reuponthe springs 46and 47 are permitted to automatically move the leaf 20 into its out-of-the-way position and to hold the leaf in such position against the underside of the table.

The invention disclosed herein is not intended to be limited to use with the particular table illustrated in the drawings. Obviously, the invention. may be used for hingedly connecting a leaf to any table-like support or with any pair of hingedly connected members which are intended to be automatically braced in a fully extended position when pivoted or swung into such position.

' I claim:

1. In combination, a table having a straight edge, a leaf in hinged association with the table along said edge for movement between an extended position in the plane of the table and a reversely folded position beneath the table, and means adjacent each endof the leaf for hinging the leaf to the table and for automatically retaining the leaf in either its extended position or its reversely folded position, each of said means comprising, a first pair of plates, a hinged connection between adjacent edges of said plates, one of said plates being adapted to be attached flatwise to the underside of the table with the hinged connection substantially coincident with the edge of :the table and the other of said plates being adapted to be attached flatwise to the underside of the leaf, a second pair of plates, a hinged connection between adjacent edges of said second plates, which hinged connection is arranged in endwise. association with the hinged connection between said first plates, hinged connections between adjacent edges of each of said first plates and each of said second plates, which last mentioned hinged connections are located at right angles to the hinged connection between the first plates and also at right angles to the hinged connection between the second plates, said second plates being pivotable between a position flat against the undersides of the table and extended leaf in which ,positionthe leaf is movable between its extended and reversely folded positions and a position at right angles to said first plates in which position the second plates" act as a brace for retaining the leaf in its extended position, spring means associated with the hinged connection between the first plates biased to move those plates together, and other spring means associated with the hinged connections between the first and second plates tending to move the second plates into said bracing positions at right angles to the first plates.

2. For use with a substantially horizontal table-like support and aleaf which is movable between a substantially horizontal extended position and an out-ofthe-way position, a first pair of hinged plates, one of said plates being adapted to be attached flatwise to the underside of the support and the. other of said plates being adapted the hinged connection therebetween substantially coincident with the edge of the support, a second pair of hinged plates with the hinged connection therebetween being arranged in endwise association with the hinged connection of said first plates, hinged connections between adjacent edges of eachof said first plates and each of said second plates and located at right angles to the hinged connection of the first plates and also at right angles to the hinged connection of the second plates, first spring means associated with the hinged connection of the first plates biased to move those plates together, and second spring means associatedwith the hinged connections between the first and second plates tending to move the second plates into positions at right angles to the first plates when the leaf is moved into its extended position to provide a brace for retaining the leaf in said extended edges of the leaves of said first and second hinges with said hinge connections extending at right angles to the meeting edges of the two members, said second hinge being pivotable relative to said first hinge when the two members are in their fully extended position between a position fiat against said corresponding surfaces of the two members in which position the two members may be pivoted between their first and second positions and a position at right angles to said corresponding surfaces in which position said second hinge acts as a brace to retain the two members in their fully extended position, first spring means associated with the hinge connection between the leaves of said first hinge biasing said leaves toward each other whereby the two members are resiliently urged toward and held in said second position, and second spring means associated with said hinge connections between said first and second hinges operable to pivot said second hinge into its bracing position at right angles to said corresponding surfaces as soon as the two members have been pivoted against the action of said first spring means into their fully extended position.

4. In combination, a table-like support having a straight edge, a leaf having a hinge connection, with the support along said edge permitting pivotable movement of the leaf between an extended position in the plane of the support and an out-of-the-way position, and means for automatically retaining the leaf in both its extended and out-of-the-way positions, said means comprising, a first flat plate having an edge which is pivotably mounted on the underside of the leaf for movement about an axis which extends at right angles to the hinged edge of the leaf, a second fiat plate having an edge which is pivotably mounted on the underside of the support for movement about an axis which is disposed in endwise alignment with said pivotable axis of said first plate when the leaf is in its extended position, each of said plates being pivotable between positions flat against and at right angles to the underside of the extended support and each plate having an edge coincident with the hinged edges of the leaf and support when in said flat position, a hinge connection between said coincident edges of said first and second plates so that with the leaf in its extended position and said plates pivoted to said right-angle positions said interconnected plates act as brace means for retaining the leaf in its extended position, first spring means associated with the pivotable connections of said plates to the undersides of the support and leaf operable to pivot said plates into said bracing position as soon as the leaf has been pivoted into its extended position, the leaf being pivotable between its extended and out-of-the-way positions when said plates are in their flat positions against the underside of the extended support, and second spring means associated with said hinge connection between said coincident edges of said first and second plates adapted to the support and an outof-the-way position, and a hingetype device for automatically retaining said leaf in both its extended and out-of-the-way positions comprising, a pair of pivotably connected flat hinge members, means pivotably mounting corresponding edges of said pair of hinge members one on the underside of the leaf and one on the underside of the support for pivotable movement when the leaf is in its extended position about an axis urge the leaf into its out-of-the-way position when said plates are pivoted against the action of said first spring means into their flat positions against the underside of the extended support.

5. In combination, a table-like support having a straight edge, a leaf having a hinge connection with the support along said edge permitting pivotable movement of the leaf between an extended position in the plane of i at right angles to the hinged edges of the support and leaf between a first position fiat against the underside of the extended support wherein the leaf may be pivoted between its extended and out-of-the way positions and a second position at right angles to the underside of the extended support wherein said hinge members act as a brace for retaining the leaf in its extended position, first spring means operable to automatically pivot said hinge members into said second bracing position when the leaf is pivoted into its extended position, and second spring means operable when said hinge members are pivoted into said first position flat against the underside of the extended support to automatically pivot the leaf into its out-of-the-way position and to resiliently hold the leaf in said position.

6. In a table or the like having one or more leaves hingedly connected thereto for independent pivotable movement between extended and out-of-the-way positions, a double-acting hinge-type device for automatically bracing each leaf in both its extended and out-of-the-way positions comprising, a pair of hinge members, first and second hinge connections pivotably mounting one of said members on the'underside of the table and the other member on the underside of the leaf, said first and second hinge connections both lying in a plane extending at right angles to the hingedly connected edges of the table and leaf, a third hinge connection between the two hinge members extending at right angles to said first and second hinge connections, whereby said two hinge members are pivotable between a position flat against the underside of the extended table in which position the leaf may be pivoted between its extended and out-of-the-way positions and a position at right angles to the underside of the extended table in which position said members act as a supporting brace for retaining the leaf in its extended position, spring means associated with said first and second hinge connections operable to automatically pivot said hinge members into said leaf-bracing position when the leaf is pivoted into its extended position, and other spring means associated with said third hinge connection operable to automatically pivot the leaf into its out-of-the-way position when said two hinge members are pivoted from said leaf-bracing position to said position flat against the underside of the extended table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 404,313 Smedes May 28, 1889 1,043,567 Burnham Nov. 5, 1912 1,080,437 Griesceimer Dec. 2, 1913 1,456,574 Roberts et a1. May 29, 1923 1,571,806 Schmitt Feb. 2, 1926 1,781,602 Rygl Nov. 11, 1930 1,993,787 Howe Mar. 12, 1935 2,003,008 Perl May 28, 1935 2,763,889 Bednarski Sept. 25, 1956 2,815,529 Herbolsheimer et a1. Dec. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 420,991 Great Britain Dec. 12, 1934 

